More than 500 unique items are currently on loan to Downing Street from the Government Art Collection, including portraits of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Isaac Newton and Robert Walpole, the first prime minister, as well as views of Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Authors:

Related stories on these topics:

Maria Valentina Umer

Does this woman have nothing more important in mind? I mean, world peace? the Brits are really over their heads!

Posted on 7/23/16 | 5:57 PM CET

meh

She’s left the world peace to you Maria, you’re doing a fine job. Since meeting you I love the world of people a whole lot more. I didn’t realise there were kind fair tolerant warm hearted generous souls like you out there. Carry on.

She’s just moved in, you’ve got to redecorate when you move in to a new house. Other stuff will just have to wait.

Posted on 7/23/16 | 6:57 PM CET

Rolle

I think this is a good sign to show the world, that the Brits finally accept their place on this planet. They became more and more meaningless over the last decades and the brexit will increase this process since they can’t abuse the European institutions for their national interests anymore. So stop thinking about global trade, geopolitical conflicts, wars or whatsoever. Let’s talk about paintings and quotes. It’s also good for the rest of the world if you see how many conflicts were started by British bombs.

Posted on 7/23/16 | 10:51 PM CET

TimTit

@Rolle

Wonderful thought provoking and deep analysis. Well done. I shall mull this over. There done.

Posted on 7/23/16 | 11:00 PM CET

ColinM

@Rolle
Yes – we very much regret our totally unjustified declaration of war in 1939. It cost the lives of nearly 450,000 Britons and made us the most indebted nation on Earth.

Had we known you were all so keen on a unified Europe you could have had one 18 years before the EEC. So sorry we stopped you especially as there was such an opportunity for us to export to Germany short lengths of piano-wire much in demand by their law enforcement personnel at the time.

Posted on 7/24/16 | 10:51 AM CET

ColinM

@Maria Valentina Umer
“Does this woman have nothing more important in mind? I mean, world peace?”

I suppose you have never been to an office or factory where the company ‘mission statement’ is brazened across the wall. If so, where have you been?

A reminder to “tackle inequality and improving the prospects of the worst-off” sounds enough for the mere British government.

As meh says World peace is your job.

Posted on 7/24/16 | 11:11 AM CET

Denny

@Rolle
She’ll use the time it takes the European Parliament to relocate between Brussels and Strasbourg every month to redecorate. She’ll have plenty of time to spare and it won’t cost £150m a pop either.

Clearly an indication of the EU’s lowly standing in the world by your own admission.